Canucks News

Press Round-Up: OCT.19.07

Brad Ziemer discusses the Canucks’ poor start as they enter their seventh game of the season facing the L.A. Kings tonight at GM Place.

“Through their first six games, the Canucks are giving up more goals per game than they are scoring. In other words, they should consider themselves fortunate to be a .500 team heading into tonight's home game against the Los Angeles Kings,” Ziemer said.

“The moral of the Canucks' story so far this season is that it is dangerous to take anything for granted. Like, for example, the team's defence, which nearly everyone had concluded before training camp began was absolutely rock solid.”

"I don't think it's as much our positional play or our defence," Vigneault said after practice Thursday. "It's when we get the puck the number of turnovers we have created in our zone -- unforced errors, just throwing the puck away to no one, taking the puck and getting rid of that responsibility by throwing it to the other team, that's where we have got into trouble more than anywhere else in our zone.”

"That was our bread and butter last year, our defensive play, and I think as this year plays out that's what we'll get back to eventually," said centre Brendan Morrison. "When you look at this team on paper, our strongest asset is probably our defensive core and our goaltending. I think it's a matter of time until we sort some things out. We'll be fine."

THE VANCOUVER SUN

Salo saddles up for ‘little steps’ at practice

Brad Ziemer reports Sami Salo’s progress as his wrist heals and Salo has his first practice with the team yesterday morning.

Ziemer said, “Salo fractured his left wrist during the team's intra-squad game Sept. 16 in Victoria. He had the cast removed this past weekend and skated for the first time Thursday with the rest of the team.”

"I'm just trying to get the strength back, take little steps and not try to force it," said Salo, who will be a spectator again tonight when the Los Angeles Kings visit General Motors Place. "You don't want to go back to square one. You just want to take little steps to the top of the hill and then be ready to play."

"I have made a lot of progress since I have had the cast off and every day it feels a little better," he said. "But there is still work to do to get back into the lineup."

"He is going to fly with us to Columbus," Vigneault said of Salo. "It's about 60 per cent right now and getting better every day by 10 or 15 per cent."

THE GLOBE & MAIL

Morrison soldiers on

Grant Kerr points out the new Iron man if the NHL as Brendan Morrison continues his 518 consecutive-games streak.

“The Vancouver Canucks forward has played every regular-season game for more than six years, despite two major off-season surgeries and numerous injuries that might have sidelined other players,” said Kerr.

“The 32-year-old doesn't worry about the NHL record of 964 consecutive games set by Doug Jarvis while with three teams (Montreal, Washington, Hartford) from 1975 to 1987.”

“It's quite a few games,” Morrison said of his own total. “I've been pretty lucky, been able to put off some injuries from time to time. That's the big part of it, being lucky. Conditioning wise, the work you put in [during] the summer plays off, taking care of your body.”

“I can't explain it,” Morrison said of his durability. “I have a real passion, to be out there every night, do what you can to be a part of it.”